CAN MARTY DURLIN SAVE KZYX FROM ITSELF?

Marty Durlin

This morning we received a story tip from an associate with a one-sentence message: Click here to see crappiest PD job in public radio!

If you haven’t tried the link, it will take you to a CPB job posting for program director at KZYX in Mendocino County.

For good reasons, KZYX [link] is known as an unpleasant place to work. But, maybe there is hope because KZYX has just hired Marty Durlin as its new General Manager. Durlin, a respected community radio insider, starts her new gig in late April.

Durlin likely knows what she is getting into because of her three decades of service in public radio management. She brought vision and excitement to KGNU, Boudler. She brought stability to KZMU in Moab, Utah. She is a “go to” person when CPB, NFCB and other organizations need perspective for matters concerning community media.

There are many challenges that aren’t unique to KZYX: It is in a small rural market without much industry other than 420. Plus there have been floods and fires. Lots of people their are living on "seeds and stems."

But, KXYZ has one problem that is particularly awful: The station suffers from Pacifica-itis. You might say KZYX is "over-governed," just like Pacifica itself.

KZYX has a committee for this and a committee for that. They’ve got an audit committee, a finance committee, a By-Laws committee, an elections committee, a long range planning committee, fundraising committee, a programming committee, plus a community advisory board that meets every month. There is probably a “make sure your ass is clean” committee too.

And, these committees run the place. Like Pacifica, this causes the staff endless grief because of second-guessing and micromanaging. The people on the committees think their meetings are more important then what is on the air. Every member has a vote and turf to protect.

To make matters even worse, many of the people on the committees are local lifers. They don’t plan to leave anytime soon but they hope you won’t be there very long.

A case-in-point, last June we published a post about a conflict between the committees and staff [link]. Someone didn’t like something someone did and notified CPB of the perceived malfeasance.

Scene of the "Garlic Fries" incident

Then, the community board folks decided to hash it out at a meeting in a local bar.

[Lesson: Don’t hold Board meetings in a bar.]

A KZYX boaed member created a ruckus because he/she didn’t get adequate time to speak. Things were ugly and fists flew.

Several plates of cheesy Garlic Fries were thrown. the crowd. The cops arrived and one person was arrested.

ENTER MARTY DURLIN

 The cast of Uranium: The Musical

Let’s hope KZYX’s new General Manager Marty Durlin is ready for this sandbox.

In addition to her public radio work, Durlin likes to write radio plays. 

Her latest play – Uranium: The Musical – dramatized the Utah uranium boom. 

Let's hope life at KXYZ will be less toxic.